Water Conservation and Protection plan Technical Presentation by: Terry McGhee, DuPage Water Commission
April 25, 2013
Ø Second
largest water system in the State of
Illinois Ø Sole source of Lake Michigan water inside DuPage County Ø The Commission purchases finished water from the City of Chicago and wholesales it to the communities located inside DuPage County Ø Operates under the authority of the Water Commission Act of 1985
System Background Ø Responsible
for water to ≈ 800,000 people Ø DuPage Pumping Station has a capacity of 185 MGD with an average day demand of 86 MGD Ø Site covers ≈ 10 acres Ø Two 15 MG reservoirs
Water Conservation and Protection Program (WCAPP) Overview Ø Ø
Primary driver for DWC WCAPP is commitment to stewardship and prudent long-term planning To implement water conservation in DuPage County, DWC will: l Develop and communicate clear and consistent message l Implement select group of programs to create initial surge in conservation efforts l Organize and distribute conservation resources and tools to be evaluated, customized and used by individual Member Utilities to promote effective local programs
DuPage County Water Usage Summary Water Usage Summary
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Average daily water use for Lake Michigan water users in DuPage County is 106 gallons/ person/day
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Over 71% of total water use is for residential customers
Source: Summary of data from DWC and Illinois Department of Natural Resources Data does not include unaccounted for flow values for Argonne or IAWC. Note: Summary data only includes Lake Michigan water delivered by DuPage Water Commission Member Utilities to their customers. Data does not include any groundwater use.
Baseline Analysis of DWC Water Usage
Regional Water Conservation Program Program’s overall goal is to achieve a 10 % reduction in water use per person within 10 years. "
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You can help by: " saving
gallons of
" saving gallon of for 10 years.
per day
per day every year
Programs were chosen by their potential to have the greatest impact Average Indoor and Outdoor Water Use in a Non-conserving Home
Average Indoor Water Use in a Nonconserving Home
Outdoor 31%
Indoor 69%
80 – 90% of the outdoor component of residential water use goes to lawn care
WCAPP focuses on conservation education and awareness Four education programs were developed, combining conservation measures (hardware) with educational materials (incentive) Program 1 – Water Pledge Program 2 – Residential Leak Detection and Repair Program 3 – Rain Gauge and Landscape Irrigation Program 4 – Rain Barrel
Conservation Education Program 1 – Water Pledge Water conservation is everyone’s responsibility.
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There are two groups asked to make a water conservation pledge: " Your Water Utility " You How can you pledge? " Fill out the pledge either online at www.preservingeverydrop.org or by mail " Identify the ways that you can conserve water in and around your home Examples of ways to conserve are: " Decrease your shower by two minutes " saves 10 gal for a regular showerhead " saves 5 gal for a low-flow showerhead " Repair leaky toilets " A small toilet leak can save you $50 or more per year through lower water and sewer bills!
Conservation Education Program 2 – Leak Detection and Repair Toilet leaks can waste over 100 gallons a day!
There is a simple, easy way to check your toilet for leaks! Packets that can be found at the Water Conservation table. "
Dye tablets (or food coloring) helps determine if there is a leak by placing the tablet into the tank of your toilet then waiting 10 minutes to see if the color has appeared in the bowl. "
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If the color appears in the bowl it means your toilet is leaking.
Most toilets leak because the flapper is worn out, this is a $5 piece that is easily replaced.
leaking
in
is
Conservation Education Program 3 – Rain Gauge and Landscape Watering
On average, ½ of the annual water used in a single-family home will be used for lawn care!
Rain gauges measure how much rain your lawn receives. "
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They can help you tell when to water outdoor plants and turf and how much to water. Rain gauges have information on how to best use them as well as helpful lawn care tips, such as: " A typical Illinois lawn ONLY needs about 1-1½” of
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water each week. Make sure to place your rain gauge free from overhang: " trees, shrubs, gutters
Conservation Education Program 4 – Rain Barrel Usage Watering lawns wastes our drinking water and energy resources.
Watering lawns can be accomplished with rain water instead. " Rain barrels "
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Collects the mineral-rich, chlorine free rain water from your downspout that can be used for watering plants and grass Conserves drinking water used for lawn care A quarter-inch of rain falling on the average " " "home yields more than 200 gallons of water
Year 4 Implementation "
Priorities for 2013 "
DWC to continue support and outreach to member utilities " Continue current programs " Develop new programs as the need arises
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DWC will continue public education and outreach " Videos " School outreach " Community on the average " ""
Low Flow Plumbing Fixtures Installed at DWC Facilities
13,000 Gallon Rainwater Collection System
Ø 2
Cisterns on Site Ø 18’ Diameter, 12’-6” Tall Ø Capture Rainwater, Eliminate Flow into Sewers Ø Stored Water Used to Wash Vehicles and for Irrigation
6,200 Square Foot Vegetative Roof Ø Reduces
Urban Heat Island Effect Ø Made of Succulent Plants Designed to Retain and Filter Water Prior to Release into the Cisterns
Site Design Using a Detention Pond, Bioswale, and Native Plantings Ø Detention
Pond Provides Settling Area for Further Removal of Suspended Solids Ø Bio-swale and Detention Pond Naturally Filter Storm water and Reduce Runoff Ø Native Plantings Reduce 50% of Water Used for Landscaping
Reservoir Converted to Savanna and installation of Native Prairie Plants